Ball-caster.



J. H. FENNEY.

BALL EASTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE22,1906. BENIIWED SBPT.17, 1908.

Patented Now/.121908.

FIG.4 2

FIG. l

mv E; KTQ R.. BT ORATIQFENNEY,

Attcnng. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HORATIO FENNEY, CF HANDSWORTH, NEAR BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

BALL-CASTER.

T0 all 'whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JoiiN Iflolm'rro FEN- NEY, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 52 Montague road, llandsworth, near Birmingham, in the county of Stafford, England, traveler, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ball-Casters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to in'iprovcments in ball casters and has for its objects to construct or provide such in a simpler and more eilicient manner than heretofore, from which all dust is excluded thereby preventing the present liability to become clogged or deranged.

To this end my invention consists in mounting the main ball in a ball race or bearing at the foot of the main cylinder, a rubber or other resilient diaphragm immediately below the lnain ball, and which prevents the ingress of dust. Immediately above the main ball is mounted another ball which takes the vertical thrust, this ball being located in a recess in a diaphragm. The main shell may be inclosed in an outer shell of thin metal which holds the various parts together.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more readily carried into practice, I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings illustrating the same, wherein Figure 1. is an outside elevation of a ball caster, according to one form of my invention. Fig. 2. is a sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3. is a transverse sectional view at 1 2, in Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is an outside elevation of a modification of my ball caster. Fig. 5. shows the same form of the invention in sectional elevation, and Fig. 6. is an inverted plan of the caster.

In constructing a ball caster according to the form of my invention illustrated at Figs. 1 3, I take a cylindrical piece C preferably of iron or steel. Within this cylinder C is provideda diaphragm D, beneath which is located a ball T which receives the thrust from the main ball B situated immediately below it. At the bottom of the said cylinder C and within same is provided a ring E carrying a plurality of balls e, four being shown in this instance; these balls e being Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

Renewed September 17, 1908. Serial No. 458,506.

in contact with the aforementioned ball B. At the bottom of the cylinder C, I provide a rubber or equivalent flexible diaphragm R, having a central hole through which the ball B projects. Around the aforesaid cylinder C, I provide an outer shell, S, preferably of brass, which is flanged inwardly at its base, this ange, s, pinching the diaphragm R at its outer edves between the bottoms of the inner cylin er and the ring carrying antifriction balls, firmly holdin1 such diaphragm R against the cylinder Cn, and thereby securing it firmly in position. The shell S, cylinder C and diaphragm l) are preferably secured together by screws d as illustrated. It will be seen that in this form of caster, the ball B bears upon the Hoor and rotates when the caster is moved, the balls e facilitating such movement, while the ball T receives the vertical thrust and enables the ball B to move with a minimum of friction. The flexible diaphragm R, exerts a yielding and hugging pressure on the main ball and securely closes the bottom of the caster, excluding all dust, while the diaphragm D similarly seals the top.

In the form of caster illustrated at Fi s. 443, the main cylinder F is forged and 1ntegral with the upper diaphragm f in which a similar thrust ball T is located, the main ball B being immediately below the aforesaid ball T. At the bottom of the cylinder F a ring E which may be separate as shown, or integral with the cylinder, is provided Within which balls e are located, these balls e being in contact with the ball B. At the bottom a similar flexible dia hragm R is provided, the whole being held together by an outer shell S1 Hanged at s1 in the manner explained for the previous form of the invention.

Vhat I claim then is z-f In a ball caster, the combination of an outer cylindrical shell having a anged in portion,L an inner cylindrical piece, a main ball, a set of antifriction balls holdin said main ball in position and a ring aroun said main ball below its center and carrying said antifriction balls, an upper diaphragm, an upper thrust ball in the said upper diaphragm, and a Hexible perforated diaphragm below the main bull and Closing the bottom of the easter, the said diaphragm being carried between the lower flanged 1n p0rtion of the outer shell and the lower portion 0f the inner cylinder, the whole forming an anti-friction, noiseless and dust proof caster. I

In testimony whereof, I have signed my n-.une to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN HORATIO FIGNNEY.

Witnesses:

F. GILBERT BRE'mfELL, STANLEY BANNER. 

